Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Ben Mulock, 14–23 October 1860.

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                <title>Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock
                        Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben
                        Mulock</persName>, <date from-custom="--10-14" to-custom="--10-23">14–23
                        October</date>
                    <supplied resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah"><date when="1860"
                        >1860</date></supplied>.</title>
                <author ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</author>
                <editor ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BourrierKaren">Karen Bourrier</editor>
                <sponsor>
                    <orgName>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</orgName>
                </sponsor>
                <sponsor>University of Calgary</sponsor>
                <principal>Karen Bourrier</principal>
                <respStmt>
                    <resp>Transcription <date when="2017-06">June 2017</date> by</resp>
                    <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Hannah Anderson</persName>
                </respStmt>
                <respStmt>
                    <resp>Proofing of transcription <date from="2017-06" to="2017-07">June–July
                            2017</date> by </resp>
                    <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Kailey Fukushima</persName>
                </respStmt>
                <respStmt>
                    <resp>TEI encoding <date when="2017-06">June 2017</date> by</resp>
                    <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Hannah Anderson</persName>
                </respStmt>
                <respStmt>
                    <resp>Proofing of TEI encoding <date from="2017-06" to="2017-07">June–July
                            2017</date> by </resp>
                    <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Kailey Fukushima</persName>
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            <editionStmt>
                <edition> First digital edition in TEI, date: <date when="2017-07">July 2017.</date>
                    P5. </edition>
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                <authority>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</authority>
                <pubPlace>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</pubPlace>
                <date>2017</date>
                <availability>
                    <p>Reproduced by courtesy of the <placeName>University of California at Los
                            Angeles </placeName>.</p>
                    <licence>Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
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                <title>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</title>
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                        <institution>University of California at Los Angeles</institution>
                        <repository>Charles E. Young Research Library</repository>
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                        <idno>846</idno>
                    </msIdentifier>
                    <head>Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock
                            Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben
                            Mulock</persName>, <date from-custom="--10-14" to-custom="--10-23">14–23
                            October</date>
                        <supplied resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah"><date when="1860"
                                >1860</date></supplied>.</head>
                    <additional>
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                            <note>Box 1, Folder 8</note>
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            <editorialDecl>
                <p> Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as
                    accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the
                    manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts,
                    abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are
                    hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik
                    uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard
                    Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not
                    encoded. </p>
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                <opener>
                    <dateline><date when="1860-10-14">Sunday <choice>
                                <abbr>Oct</abbr>
                                <expan>October</expan>
                            </choice> 14<hi rend="superscript">th</hi></date>
                        <lb/><placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName>
                    </dateline><lb/><salute>My dearest <rs type="person"
                            ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">boy</rs></salute>
                </opener>
                <p> – The usual interval between breakfast &amp; church, which you get the benefit
                    of. I have had a busy week – clearing off odds &amp; ends of work before I
                    settle to my long story. Once or twice I have seen <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ValeLodge">Vale Lodge</placeName> people – &amp;
                    once or twice <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura" cert="medium"
                        >Laura</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissMontgomery"
                        >Miss Montgomery.</persName> I have been to <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson's</persName> nearly every
                    day. – The abscess is going on all right – but she suffers extremely.<anchor
                        xml:id="n1"/> You will understand from your boils how bad it is. – <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss"><choice>
                            <sic>Curtis</sic>
                            <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Curtiss</reg>
                        </choice></persName> doctors her – &amp; is so kind &amp; good – it's
                    wonderful. She has greatly improved they say – &amp; sure there was need for it.
                    They always ask so kindly after you – &amp; so does everybody. I am afraid your
                    grand plan of coming home to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#England"
                        >England</placeName> as a "stranger" will never succeed. – unless you come
                    disguised: for everybody has the kindest feeling towards you. I have had letters
                    from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> &amp;
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottClara">Clara</persName> asking about
                    you. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> has been
                    out of health for months – poor fellow! – It's pitiful how much he suffers &amp;
                    how he works <choice>
                        <abbr>thro'</abbr>
                        <expan>through</expan>
                    </choice> it all – 3 weeks lately at <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Llandudno">Llandudno</placeName> did him good, but
                    when he got home he fell ill again. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottClara"
                        >Clara</persName> is having a fourth baby in Spring. She is particularly
                    weak however. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellHorace">Horace</persName>
                    has had typhus fever – &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellSydney"
                        >Sydney</persName> too has been ill. Indeed <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName>
                    <mod type="subst"><del rend="overwrite">said</del><add>says</add></mod> all the
                    time of their stay at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Llandudno"
                        >Llandudno</placeName> they have had nothing but ill news. They are obliged
                    to remain there still – <rs type="org" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Dobell">all
                            <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">"Detmore"</placeName></rs> –
                    besides <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellHorace #DobellElizabethMary">the Horaces</rs>
                    have gone to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName> for
                    change of air. I have only heard from <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> – who seems
                    flourishing – making studies for his picture but probably <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellNora">Nora</persName> or <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellMary">Alice</persName> will write next week –
                    they now &amp; then give me a long letter – &amp; then stop for two months.
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> &amp;
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> are gone to
                    join their parents at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Southend"
                        >Southend</placeName> – I went in the evening before they left &amp; thought
                    they both look wickedly ill: but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                        >Marian</persName> I suppose had been fretting <pb n="2"/>about <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellSydney">Sydney</persName> – &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> I know has been
                    bothered out of her life with some family row – probably <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellWilliam">William</persName> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLovellWilliam">Fanny.</persName> Which has made
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMaria">Mrs. Lovell</persName>
                    nervous to the last degree. O why will people fight about nothing – But I feel
                    sorry to my heart for <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
                        >Min</persName> – she is getting quite a worn old-maidish face at times –
                    &amp; I am sure it is just with the incessant worries of home. How people can
                    bother one another – with the very best intentions! – <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">Emily Coates</persName> I took a walk
                    with yesterday – good soul. – She is busy with the <placeName
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HowlingWilderness">Howling
                        Wilderness</placeName>. She &amp; <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Jameses"
                        >the <choice>
                            <sic>James</sic>
                            <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Jameses</reg>
                        </choice></orgName> seem all right &amp; happy – so their affairs are
                    everybody's business but their own. Certainly there can be no doubt she is
                    excessively fond of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                        >Marian</persName>. – I can't think of anything else that you will care to
                    hear about. <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> is
                    as usual – a week of "quiet evenings". – which <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christopher">Christopher</persName> &amp; I spend
                    together. Of course it is a change after 3 months of lively large families, but
                    I'm quite content. I have a lot of peaches – descendents of poor "Moses"<anchor
                        xml:id="n2"/> – but small &amp; sour – so that nobody will eat them. However
                    I eat 6 <foreign xml:lang="la">per diem</foreign>, also nectarines, with sugar –
                    &amp; enjoy them very much. The two pear trees &amp; the apple-tree are
                    tolerably tall – if only they ripen un-stolen – Poor <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> – among his other woes
                    has had indefinite boils – how have yours gone on? You have never named them so
                    I have concluded their race was ended. Also that your eyes keep right – at least
                    as right as usual. – I was able to give <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> great comfort from
                    your experience in the matter of eyes – as he had been suffering for a year or
                    two exactly in the same way – &amp; was thinking of going to the <choice>
                        <abbr>Hopath</abbr>
                        <expan>Homeopath</expan>
                    </choice>
                    <anchor xml:id="n3"/>. – I told him what the <choice>
                        <abbr>Hopath</abbr>
                        <expan>Homeopath</expan>
                    </choice> said to you – &amp; how much you were improved. He was improved as
                    soon as he got stronger &amp; ceased working by gas-light. – It <pb n="3"/>is
                    curious how one finds out <hi rend="underline">everybody's</hi> suffering. I
                    "preached" to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName>
                    without end in sanitary matters – &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonMaggie">Maggie</persName> writes me he really
                    has minded it – taken to getting up early, &amp; not working at night – &amp; is
                    very much better. – Well, this is very stupid<anchor xml:id="n4"/> – &amp; so
                    goodbye – for I must get ready for Church.</p>
                <p>Evening I return to my letter to put in a <mod type="subst"><del
                            rend="strikethrough">joke</del><add place="above">riddle</add></mod>
                    which <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName>
                    particularly wishes communicated to you – as she thinks it <mod type="subst"
                            ><del rend="strikethrough">bad</del><add place="above">good</add></mod>
                    enough for you to appreciate. "What are the <add place="above">degrees of</add>
                        compar<mod type="subst"><del rend="overwrite">isons</del><add place="inline"
                            >atives</add></mod>
                    <mod type="subst"><del rend="strikethrough">of</del><add place="above"
                        >on</add></mod> a Lawyer's <add place="above">career</add> – First he gets
                    on – then he gets <hi rend="underline"><choice>
                            <sic>honor</sic>
                            <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">honour</reg>
                        </choice></hi> – then he gets <hi rend="underline">honest</hi>!!!" She &amp;
                    the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ziepel">Ziepels</orgName> came in &amp;
                    stopped tea in the usual way – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrZiepel">Mr.
                        Z</persName> played <foreign xml:lang="ge">Liedes</foreign><anchor
                        xml:id="n5"/> – &amp; he looked over your <choice>
                        <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                        <expan>Photographs</expan>
                    </choice>. Then I have been playing alone by myself <choice>
                        <abbr>till</abbr>
                        <expan>until</expan>
                    </choice> 11. P.M. – I always miss you of a <date>Sunday</date>. I shall never
                    get used to it. &amp; it's no use trying. A year hasn't made it any better –
                    &amp; its just a year today since the first <date>Sunday</date> you were away. –
                    After lunch I went to see <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane"
                        >Jane</persName> – which was very sad – besides her illness or rather I
                    think because of it, she has got into a state of religious melancholy – and
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> doesn't
                    know what to do with her – Her state of despair at her own weakness poor dear –
                    is quite pitiful – because she thinks she does not bear her illness as she ought
                    – She will read none but religious books – &amp; thinks of nothing else. –
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> is so
                    patient with her &amp; so devoted to her – it is quite beautiful. I promised to
                    put aside work &amp; spend tomorrow morning with <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> &amp; see what I can do
                    – but it's little anybody can do but cheer &amp; amuse her, &amp; prevent her
                    thinking of herself – The abscesses are going on all right – They must take
                    their time. There seems so much illness &amp; trouble about – that I feel
                    frightened of hearing more ill news of you – especially as the hot season is
                    coming on – it seems sometimes bad enough that I must be probing after other
                    such talk while you are left to be looked after by strangers – yet you keep
                    telling me <gap reason="illegible" quantity="2" unit="word"/><pb n="4"/>much
                    better you like strangers – so it's no use minding. – It is one of the sad
                    inevitables of life. – I hope however in spite of my fidgets you are well &amp;
                    happy – &amp; getting all you want – or a good deal of it. God bless you – <rs
                        type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my boy</rs>. Goodnight.</p>
                <p><date when="1860-10-21">Sunday 21</date>. I hope to get a French mail letter
                    tomorrow morning. – Yesterday came out in <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#IllustratedNews">the News</title> 2 <choice>
                        <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                        <expan>Photographs</expan>
                    </choice> of the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Brazil">Brazil</placeName>
                    rail – with short notice &amp; your name as large as life, as the Photographer
                    to the railway. I can't say they are very well engraved – but one of them looks
                    pretty well – you will get the paper by the regular mail – <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith">Harvey</persName> may come tonight &amp;
                    then I'll tell you more. I have had a quiet week – working hard. There was some
                    mistake made by <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Dr.
                        Macleod</persName> in the <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">Good
                        Words</title> offer – they will not give <measure type="currency"
                        >£1000</measure> except with right of reprint – So <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Dr. Macleod</persName> rushed over
                    for a day &amp; we talked it over &amp; settled it – <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">"Good Words"</title> pays me <measure
                        type="currency">£5</measure> per page – which will come to <measure
                        type="currency">£400</measure> – or <measure type="currency">£500</measure>
                    if I like to make it so long. &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Mr. Blackett</persName> gives for the
                    first edition if 2 <choice>
                        <abbr>vols</abbr>
                        <expan>volumes</expan>
                    </choice>: <measure type="currency">£500</measure> – &amp; half profits
                    afterwards as usual. – I have begun the tale – its title is <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MistressAndMaid">"A Noble Woman"</title>. – The
                    story is purely imaginary – but the character my poor <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bessy">Bessy</persName> without any alteration. – It
                    will be six months work – but I am well &amp; wish to work while I can – on
                        <date when="1860-10-16">Tuesday</date> I heard from <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</persName> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FulfordWilliam">Major Fulford</persName> – he has
                    got his free discharge &amp; goes out tomorrow – to lodgings in <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stafford">Stafford</placeName> – thence he intends
                    to go to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Killarney">Killarney</placeName>. I
                    have written saying that I will send him <measure type="currency">£4</measure>
                    per month instead of <measure type="currency">£3</measure> – &amp; that I can do
                    no more – &amp; that I do <hi rend="underline">not</hi> wish him to come to
                        <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> – as it
                    would hinder my work, &amp; if I do not work I cannot keep either him or myself.
                    This makes it his interest to keep away – which is the sole hold I have over
                    him. – I am quite convinced by his late letters that to deal with him by means
                    of any spark of affection or generosity is utterly out of the question. – it
                    isn't in him – you might as well appeal to a stone. He has lived all his life
                    utterly for himself – &amp; sees nothing in the whole world <hi rend="underline"
                        >but</hi> himself. I hear <choice>
                        <abbr>thro</abbr>
                        <expan>through</expan>
                    </choice>
                    <rs type="person">the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Fulfords"
                            >Fulford's</orgName> governess</rs> whose sister <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie Miers</persName> knows that there
                    was lately an awful row between <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas"
                        >Papa</persName> &amp; some person in the prison, in which <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa's</persName> behaviour they say,
                    could only be accounted for by his mind being not right. <pb n="5"/>but as
                    neither he nor the <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FulfordWilliam"
                        >Major</persName> have named this – of course I take no notice of it. Of
                    course I shall live in perpetual fear now of some awful fuss occurring – or if
                    his appearing at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood"
                        >Wildwood</placeName> – sometimes it turns me perfectly sick: but I shall
                    get used to it – &amp; anything is better than having him constantly here. I
                    shall never try that idea again. – His coming out will at least end the bad
                    choices that have gone about concerning me. &amp; anything he does to "disgrace
                    the family" must just be borne. – Poor <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockEliza">Aunt Eliza</persName> – she takes it
                    quietly &amp; hoping he will not come out after all – I have not the heart to
                    tell her he <hi rend="underline">is</hi> out. – I spent a morning with <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName> &amp; heard a few
                    "trifles" about <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss"><choice>
                            <sic>Curtis</sic>
                            <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Curtiss</reg>
                        </choice></persName> – Oh how selfish men can be – He gets <measure
                        type="currency">£1200</measure> a year – &amp; <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinMatilda">his mother</rs> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinHannah">Hannah</persName> live upon <measure
                        type="currency">£120</measure> – &amp; he hardly helps them at all –
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> has to do
                    it. – &amp; she does, nobly. – With all that, they adore him, &amp; now he is
                    going out next week to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Africa"
                        >Africa</placeName> are breaking their hearts for him. – It is a thing I
                    can't understand. – I know if you had been such a fellow &amp; lost my <hi
                        rend="underline">respect</hi>, I never could have gone on loving you
                    although I might have pitied you &amp; done my duty by you – He is not "bad",
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> says – it's
                    their selfish thoughtlessness – &amp; love of his own sake – &amp; indifference
                    to money. – But I do despise such a character for the bother of any soul. – the
                    utmost Scotch stinginess that exacts every half-penny &amp; <hi rend="underline"
                        >pays</hi> every halfpenny, is higher &amp; less harmful to other folk. –
                    Now I must go – as it is Church time. – It is always comfortable to go to Church
                    – especially when one is worried – as I own I have been by this matter of
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</persName>. <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Mr. Blackett</persName> was here last
                    night – &amp; told me <hi rend="underline">his</hi> woes. <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet">His sister</rs> has fallen into "a
                    low way" – &amp; he fears he must put her in an Asylum – but means to take her
                    to live with him first, &amp; try what he can do. <anchor xml:id="n6"/>– He has
                    terrible health himself, poor man – He is a worthy sort. I wouldn't leave him.
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> came in
                    afterwards &amp; we walked with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry"
                        >Mr. Blackett</persName> to <persName>Jack
                        <unclear>Brants</unclear></persName> &amp; then came back &amp; spent a
                    quiet evening – talking about many things – but never about you. – <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> is at <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HillRoad">Hill Road</placeName> for a week –
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HardyAlice">Miss Alice Hardy</persName>
                    was married on <date when="1860-10-16">Tuesday</date> – six bridesmaids – 17
                    carriages – quite a show – all <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#NorthEnd"
                        >North End</placeName> tarried at its doors &amp; windows, but I was away
                    with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName> &amp;
                    missed it all.</p>
                <pb n="6"/>
                <p> – I have in vain waited for my letter – but there is still a chance tomorrow
                    morning, before this goes. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith"
                        >Harvey</persName> did not appear yesterday. I mean to write to him – Poor
                    fellow I hope he is not ill. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
                        >Annie</persName> writes to say she believes I can send newspapers per
                    French mail – so I shall try to send your news. – Yesterday there was a lot of
                    callers – among the rest an individual a friend of the <orgName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wells">Wells</orgName> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SmedleyFrank">Frank Smedley</persName> – who came to
                    ask me to write a continuous tale for a new May <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#TempleBar">"Temple-bar"</title> started in
                    opposition to the <title ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cornhill">Cornhill</title> by
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SalaGeorge">Sala</persName> – who after
                    writing the <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HogarthWilliam">Hogarth</persName>
                    papers, has quarrelled with <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ThackerayWilliamMakepeace">Thackeray</persName> – Of
                    course I said no – wouldn't have to do with that set for any money – I stick to
                        <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">Good Words</title> &amp;
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Norman Macleod</persName> –
                    It amuses me somewhat the "run" there is upon me just now. I have had offers
                    contracts end this year for magazines &amp; publications – they'd swallow
                    anything – poor donkeys! – but I hope I have sense to see that it can't last
                    &amp; neither to kill myself nor write myself out – what's the use of making
                    money – &amp; writing trash. Did I tell you <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> has been brought out at
                    the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BritanniaTheatre">Hoxton
                        theatre</placeName> – <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LifeForLife">"A
                        Life for a Life" or "the Burdens of Guilt"</title>. <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrMartin">Mr. Martin</persName> went to see it &amp;
                    brought me the Playbill – which is killing<anchor xml:id="n7"/>! Plot slightly
                    altered – 1<hi rend="superscript">st</hi> scene – the murder at <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stonehenge">Stonehenge</placeName> – <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Harry">Harry</persName>, recovering, is really
                    killed by two choice villains – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell"
                        >Tyrell</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Burgs"
                        >Burgs</persName>, who are taking off his clothes. – 2<hi rend="superscript"
                        >nd</hi> scene <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName>
                    going to be hanged <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora"
                        >Dora</persName> declares her woe <hi rend="underline">to</hi>
                    <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Burgs">Burgs</persName>, who is only a villain
                    (he says) per circumstances – "I" know the murderer – Ha!" says he, &amp;
                    planting <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora">Dora</persName> behind
                        <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stonehenge">Stonehenge</placeName> makes
                    her overlook <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell's</persName>
                    confession – she reeling out with "Ha - my <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> is innocent!" is met by
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell</persName> – he pulls out a
                    pistol – she another – &amp; they chase one another about the stage. She is
                    about to get the worst of it &amp; be shot when constables appear &amp; rescue.
                    – It seems magistrates knew – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax"
                        >Max</persName>, black-coated, seedy, &amp; melancholy is set free, &amp;
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell</persName> – crowing he has
                    led an ill life &amp; would rather be hanged than not, goes to off to be hanged
                    accordingly. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> leads
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora">Dora</persName> to the
                    floodlights with "Ha, my <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora"
                        >Dora</persName> this is thy doing!" – &amp; a moral sentiment About the
                    wonderful workings of Providence – with which the play ends. Doesn't it beat me
                    hollow? – The admission is getting 3. &amp; so on – &amp; "No payment for <choice>
                        <sic>Sergants</sic>
                        <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Sergeants</reg>
                    </choice> in Arms" – You may imagine the style of this. – You know you
                    prophesied it at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BootlecumLinacre"
                        >Linacre</placeName>. – </p>
                <pb n="7"/>
                <p><date when="1860-10-23">Tuesday</date>. No letter per French mail has come – so I
                    conclude you have not written. I do hope you are still keeping well: but it
                    would have been a great satisfaction to have had a letter. – There was one from
                        <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> – quiet
                    and kind – he seems pleased about his additional money – which of course he says
                    he should not accept – &amp; of course will. – He asks for some more for clothes
                    – which I send him by return &amp; have told him to get whatever he needs – he
                    must be made comfortable this winter. He lodges with <rs type="person">a
                        widow</rs> &amp; <rs type="person">daughter</rs> – a little way out of
                        <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stafford">Stafford</placeName> – <measure
                        type="currency">8</measure>/week he pays, he says. – His letter would be
                    very satisfactory if his statements could be relied on: but then unluckily they
                    can't. – I beg your pardon. I know you will say I am "hard" to <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> &amp; perhaps I am, but
                    there is something about his plausibility which I do so intensely despise. He
                    tells me how his sole reason for not becoming insolvent was the discredit it
                    would reflect on the Father of the <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Author of <title
                            corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifaxGentleman">John</title></rs> – as
                    if I did not know that all his "sweet" letters are because he depends on me –
                    &amp; that if I couldn't send him money he would turn &amp; blacken the <rs
                        type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Author of <title
                            corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifaxGentleman">John</title></rs> in
                    every possible way. – well – well – I suppose he can't help it – I always write
                    him kindly – &amp; never say a word that he might not print in the <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times">Times</title>. &amp; to other people I
                    just hold my tongue – having learned at least one thing – that under any
                    circumstances it is no credit to abuse one's father. But I cannot say black's
                    white for all that – &amp; pity him as you will &amp; attribute as much as you
                    will to a trick in his mind – there is a great deal in him which the largest
                    charity cannot set down to insanity – &amp; cannot help very cordially
                    despising. – There now I've relieved my mind: but you need never be afraid that
                    I shall not do my duty by <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs>, for all that. – I <pb n="8"
                    />do not by the way, think it is any duty of <hi rend="underline">yours</hi>. I
                    think all the money you can save you should save. – with a view to settling as
                    soon as you can find a wife. If you do not marry, &amp; settle – your life will
                    be thrown away &amp; ruined. – It is my first &amp; strongest wish – For me, I
                    shall never marry – it would be simply <hi rend="underline">impossible</hi>. I'd
                    rather live as a friend &amp; sister to <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonMaggie">Maggie</persName> &amp; aunt to their
                    children than I'd marry any man alive – I'll just take care of <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> as long as I can. – If
                    anything happens that I can't, you'll have to do it, but I don't see you have
                    any business to do it now. Your sole business is to save money, &amp; marry. –
                    &amp; the blessed change that marriage makes in a man's whole nature! – I think
                    if I wanted more convincing of a man's absolute <hi rend="underline">duty</hi>
                    to marry, &amp; the ruin is if he doesn't – it would be in seeing what I have
                    seen this year in the difference between <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonAllanPark">Allan</persName> &amp; <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> – I'll keep this bit <choice>
                        <abbr>till</abbr>
                        <expan>until</expan>
                    </choice> afternoon on chance of second post.</p>
                <p>Afternoon – No letters – &amp; now I must post this. – Shall send you the <title
                        corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#IllustratedNews">News</title> if I can get it –
                    &amp; if the mail allows – Otherwise it will go by the regular mail next month.
                    – Anyhow I get a good deal of news in a small compass. price 8 – per 1/4 ounce.
                    A 1/2 ounce is 1/4 – which I have afforded you, by last French but can't do it
                    again!! – The communications which are to be sent next month to <orgName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Selver">Selver</orgName> &amp;c – I'll do my best to
                    get you. – I think on the whole I "have not laboured in vain!" – see <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PecksniffSeth">Pecksniff</persName><anchor
                        xml:id="n8"/>. The only thing that went wrong was the <date>July</date>
                    letter – &amp; that <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrGarlick"
                        >Garlick</persName> declares positively he posted on the day I named – <date
                        when="1860-10-09">Saturday 9<hi rend="superscript">th</hi></date>: – It must
                    have gone wrong at the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath"
                        >Hampstead</placeName> Post Office. There has been a row here about
                    non-delivered letters. – I hope they have not taken my French letter there
                    today. – Goodbye – I hope all is well with you <rs type="person"
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – </p>
                <closer><salute>Your <choice>
                            <abbr>affec</abbr>
                            <expan>affectionate</expan>
                        </choice></salute>
                    <lb/><signed>
                        <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Sister</persName> – </signed>
                    <lb/>
                </closer>
            </div>
            <div type="notes">
                <note target="#n1" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Around the end of <date
                        when="1860-08">August</date>/the beginning of <date when="1860-09">September
                        1860</date>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName>'s
                    friend <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName>
                    discovered benign but painful abscesses in her breast. She was ill for at least
                    a month.</note>
                <note target="#n2" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Moses is the name of one
                    of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName>'s dead fruit
                    trees.</note>
                <note target="#n3" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">"Hopath" seems to be an
                    abbreviation for the word "homoeopath."</note>
                <note target="#n4" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey"><persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName> uses this work to mean "dull"
                    or "void of interest" (OED "stupid, adj. and n." 4).</note>
                <note target="#n5" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Lied is a genre in which
                    German poems are set to music. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,
                    Romantic poems were often combined with musical compositions.</note>
                <note target="#n6" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">The publisher <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Henry Blackett</persName> had two
                    younger sisters, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet"
                        >Harriet</persName> and <persName>Catharine</persName>. <persName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet">Harriet</persName>, the middle
                    sister, lived with him and <orgName>his family</orgName> in <placeName
                        ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#London">London</placeName> in the <date when="1861"
                        >1861</date> census. <lb/><!--Ancestry--></note>
                <note target="#n7" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">"Killing" was nineteenth
                    century slang for "fascinating". <lb/>"Killing," Dictionary of Slang and
                    Colloquial English, eds. John S. Farmer and W. E. Henley (London: George
                    Routledge &amp; Sons, 1905), 253.</note>
                <note target="#n8" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">The quote "I have not
                    laboured in vain" is from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DickensCharles"
                        >Charles Dicken</persName>'s novel, <title>Martin Chuzzlewit</title>. <lb/>
                    Charles Dickens, "Chapter XIX," The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewitt
                    (Leipzig: Tauchnitz, 1844), 280.<!--Google Books--></note>
            </div>
        </body>
    </text>
</TEI>
Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Ben Mulock, 14–23 October 1860 . Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription June 2017 by Hannah Anderson Proofing of transcription June–July 2017 by Kailey Fukushima TEI encoding June 2017 by Hannah Anderson Proofing of TEI encoding June–July 2017 by Kailey Fukushima First digital edition in TEI, date: July 2017. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2017

Reproduced by courtesy of the University of California at Los Angeles .

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Ben Mulock, 14–23 October 1860 . Box 1, Folder 8

Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded.

Sunday Oct October 14th Wildwood My dearest boy

– The usual interval between breakfast & church, which you get the benefit of. I have had a busy week – clearing off odds & ends of work before I settle to my long story. Once or twice I have seen Vale Lodge people – & once or twice Laura & Miss Montgomery. I have been to Jane Benson's nearly every day. – The abscess is going on all right – but she suffers extremely. You will understand from your boils how bad it is. – Curtis Curtiss doctors her – & is so kind & good – it's wonderful. She has greatly improved they say – & sure there was need for it. They always ask so kindly after you – & so does everybody. I am afraid your grand plan of coming home to England as a "stranger" will never succeed. – unless you come disguised: for everybody has the kindest feeling towards you. I have had letters from Albert & Clara asking about you. Albert has been out of health for months – poor fellow! – It's pitiful how much he suffers & how he works thro' through it all – 3 weeks lately at Llandudno did him good, but when he got home he fell ill again. Clara is having a fourth baby in Spring. She is particularly weak however. Horace has had typhus fever – & Sydney too has been ill. Indeed Clarence said says all the time of their stay at Llandudno they have had nothing but ill news. They are obliged to remain there still – all "Detmore" – besides the Horaces have gone to Detmore for change of air. I have only heard from Clarence – who seems flourishing – making studies for his picture but probably Nora or Alice will write next week – they now & then give me a long letter – & then stop for two months. Minna & Marian are gone to join their parents at Southend – I went in the evening before they left & thought they both look wickedly ill: but Marian I suppose had been fretting about Sydney – & Minna I know has been bothered out of her life with some family row – probably William & Fanny. Which has made Mrs. Lovell nervous to the last degree. O why will people fight about nothing – But I feel sorry to my heart for Min – she is getting quite a worn old-maidish face at times – & I am sure it is just with the incessant worries of home. How people can bother one another – with the very best intentions! – Emily Coates I took a walk with yesterday – good soul. – She is busy with the Howling Wilderness. She & the James Jameses seem all right & happy – so their affairs are everybody's business but their own. Certainly there can be no doubt she is excessively fond of Marian. – I can't think of anything else that you will care to hear about. Wildwood is as usual – a week of "quiet evenings". – which Christopher & I spend together. Of course it is a change after 3 months of lively large families, but I'm quite content. I have a lot of peaches – descendents of poor "Moses" – but small & sour – so that nobody will eat them. However I eat 6 per diem, also nectarines, with sugar – & enjoy them very much. The two pear trees & the apple-tree are tolerably tall – if only they ripen un-stolen – Poor Albert – among his other woes has had indefinite boils – how have yours gone on? You have never named them so I have concluded their race was ended. Also that your eyes keep right – at least as right as usual. – I was able to give Joe great comfort from your experience in the matter of eyes – as he had been suffering for a year or two exactly in the same way – & was thinking of going to the Hopath Homeopath . – I told him what the Hopath Homeopath said to you – & how much you were improved. He was improved as soon as he got stronger & ceased working by gas-light. – It is curious how one finds out everybody's suffering. I "preached" to Joe without end in sanitary matters – & Maggie writes me he really has minded it – taken to getting up early, & not working at night – & is very much better. – Well, this is very stupid – & so goodbye – for I must get ready for Church.

Evening I return to my letter to put in a joke riddle which Laura particularly wishes communicated to you – as she thinks it bad good enough for you to appreciate. "What are the degrees of comparisons atives of on a Lawyer's career – First he gets on – then he gets honor honour – then he gets honest!!!" She & the Ziepels came in & stopped tea in the usual way – Mr. Z played Liedes – & he looked over your Phos Photographs . Then I have been playing alone by myself till until 11. P.M. – I always miss you of a Sunday. I shall never get used to it. & it's no use trying. A year hasn't made it any better – & its just a year today since the first Sunday you were away. – After lunch I went to see Jane – which was very sad – besides her illness or rather I think because of it, she has got into a state of religious melancholy – and Fanny doesn't know what to do with her – Her state of despair at her own weakness poor dear – is quite pitiful – because she thinks she does not bear her illness as she ought – She will read none but religious books – & thinks of nothing else. – Fanny is so patient with her & so devoted to her – it is quite beautiful. I promised to put aside work & spend tomorrow morning with Jane & see what I can do – but it's little anybody can do but cheer & amuse her, & prevent her thinking of herself – The abscesses are going on all right – They must take their time. There seems so much illness & trouble about – that I feel frightened of hearing more ill news of you – especially as the hot season is coming on – it seems sometimes bad enough that I must be probing after other such talk while you are left to be looked after by strangers – yet you keep telling me much better you like strangers – so it's no use minding. – It is one of the sad inevitables of life. – I hope however in spite of my fidgets you are well & happy – & getting all you want – or a good deal of it. God bless you – my boy. Goodnight.

Sunday 21. I hope to get a French mail letter tomorrow morning. – Yesterday came out in the News 2 Phos Photographs of the Brazil rail – with short notice & your name as large as life, as the Photographer to the railway. I can't say they are very well engraved – but one of them looks pretty well – you will get the paper by the regular mail – Harvey may come tonight & then I'll tell you more. I have had a quiet week – working hard. There was some mistake made by Dr. Macleod in the Good Words offer – they will not give £1000 except with right of reprint – So Dr. Macleod rushed over for a day & we talked it over & settled it – "Good Words" pays me £5 per page – which will come to £400 – or £500 if I like to make it so long. & Mr. Blackett gives for the first edition if 2 vols volumes : £500 – & half profits afterwards as usual. – I have begun the tale – its title is "A Noble Woman". – The story is purely imaginary – but the character my poor Bessy without any alteration. – It will be six months work – but I am well & wish to work while I can – on Tuesday I heard from Papa & Major Fulford – he has got his free discharge & goes out tomorrow – to lodgings in Stafford – thence he intends to go to Killarney. I have written saying that I will send him £4 per month instead of £3 – & that I can do no more – & that I do not wish him to come to Wildwood – as it would hinder my work, & if I do not work I cannot keep either him or myself. This makes it his interest to keep away – which is the sole hold I have over him. – I am quite convinced by his late letters that to deal with him by means of any spark of affection or generosity is utterly out of the question. – it isn't in him – you might as well appeal to a stone. He has lived all his life utterly for himself – & sees nothing in the whole world but himself. I hear thro through the Fulford's governess whose sister Annie Miers knows that there was lately an awful row between Papa & some person in the prison, in which Papa's behaviour they say, could only be accounted for by his mind being not right. but as neither he nor the Major have named this – of course I take no notice of it. Of course I shall live in perpetual fear now of some awful fuss occurring – or if his appearing at Wildwood – sometimes it turns me perfectly sick: but I shall get used to it – & anything is better than having him constantly here. I shall never try that idea again. – His coming out will at least end the bad choices that have gone about concerning me. & anything he does to "disgrace the family" must just be borne. – Poor Aunt Eliza – she takes it quietly & hoping he will not come out after all – I have not the heart to tell her he is out. – I spent a morning with Jane Benson & heard a few "trifles" about Curtis Curtiss – Oh how selfish men can be – He gets £1200 a year – & his mother & Hannah live upon £120 – & he hardly helps them at all – Fanny has to do it. – & she does, nobly. – With all that, they adore him, & now he is going out next week to Africa are breaking their hearts for him. – It is a thing I can't understand. – I know if you had been such a fellow & lost my respect, I never could have gone on loving you although I might have pitied you & done my duty by you – He is not "bad", Jane says – it's their selfish thoughtlessness – & love of his own sake – & indifference to money. – But I do despise such a character for the bother of any soul. – the utmost Scotch stinginess that exacts every half-penny & pays every halfpenny, is higher & less harmful to other folk. – Now I must go – as it is Church time. – It is always comfortable to go to Church – especially when one is worried – as I own I have been by this matter of Papa. Mr. Blackett was here last night – & told me his woes. His sister has fallen into "a low way" – & he fears he must put her in an Asylum – but means to take her to live with him first, & try what he can do. – He has terrible health himself, poor man – He is a worthy sort. I wouldn't leave him. Minna came in afterwards & we walked with Mr. Blackett to Jack Brants & then came back & spent a quiet evening – talking about many things – but never about you. – Marian is at Hill Road for a week – Miss Alice Hardy was married on Tuesday – six bridesmaids – 17 carriages – quite a show – all North End tarried at its doors & windows, but I was away with Jane Benson & missed it all.

– I have in vain waited for my letter – but there is still a chance tomorrow morning, before this goes. Harvey did not appear yesterday. I mean to write to him – Poor fellow I hope he is not ill. – Annie writes to say she believes I can send newspapers per French mail – so I shall try to send your news. – Yesterday there was a lot of callers – among the rest an individual a friend of the Wells & Frank Smedley – who came to ask me to write a continuous tale for a new May "Temple-bar" started in opposition to the Cornhill by Sala – who after writing the Hogarth papers, has quarrelled with Thackeray – Of course I said no – wouldn't have to do with that set for any money – I stick to Good Words & Norman Macleod – It amuses me somewhat the "run" there is upon me just now. I have had offers contracts end this year for magazines & publications – they'd swallow anything – poor donkeys! – but I hope I have sense to see that it can't last & neither to kill myself nor write myself out – what's the use of making money – & writing trash. Did I tell you Max has been brought out at the Hoxton theatre"A Life for a Life" or "the Burdens of Guilt". Mr. Martin went to see it & brought me the Playbill – which is killing! Plot slightly altered – 1st scene – the murder at StonehengeHarry, recovering, is really killed by two choice villains – Tyrell & Burgs, who are taking off his clothes. – 2nd scene Max going to be hanged Dora declares her woe to Burgs, who is only a villain (he says) per circumstances – "I" know the murderer – Ha!" says he, & planting Dora behind Stonehenge makes her overlook Tyrell's confession – she reeling out with "Ha - my Max is innocent!" is met by Tyrell – he pulls out a pistol – she another – & they chase one another about the stage. She is about to get the worst of it & be shot when constables appear & rescue. – It seems magistrates knew – Max, black-coated, seedy, & melancholy is set free, & Tyrell – crowing he has led an ill life & would rather be hanged than not, goes to off to be hanged accordingly. Max leads Dora to the floodlights with "Ha, my Dora this is thy doing!" – & a moral sentiment About the wonderful workings of Providence – with which the play ends. Doesn't it beat me hollow? – The admission is getting 3. & so on – & "No payment for Sergants Sergeants in Arms" – You may imagine the style of this. – You know you prophesied it at Linacre. –

Tuesday. No letter per French mail has come – so I conclude you have not written. I do hope you are still keeping well: but it would have been a great satisfaction to have had a letter. – There was one from Papa – quiet and kind – he seems pleased about his additional money – which of course he says he should not accept – & of course will. – He asks for some more for clothes – which I send him by return & have told him to get whatever he needs – he must be made comfortable this winter. He lodges with a widow & daughter – a little way out of Stafford8/week he pays, he says. – His letter would be very satisfactory if his statements could be relied on: but then unluckily they can't. – I beg your pardon. I know you will say I am "hard" to Papa & perhaps I am, but there is something about his plausibility which I do so intensely despise. He tells me how his sole reason for not becoming insolvent was the discredit it would reflect on the Father of the Author of John – as if I did not know that all his "sweet" letters are because he depends on me – & that if I couldn't send him money he would turn & blacken the Author of John in every possible way. – well – well – I suppose he can't help it – I always write him kindly – & never say a word that he might not print in the Times. & to other people I just hold my tongue – having learned at least one thing – that under any circumstances it is no credit to abuse one's father. But I cannot say black's white for all that – & pity him as you will & attribute as much as you will to a trick in his mind – there is a great deal in him which the largest charity cannot set down to insanity – & cannot help very cordially despising. – There now I've relieved my mind: but you need never be afraid that I shall not do my duty by Papa, for all that. – I do not by the way, think it is any duty of yours. I think all the money you can save you should save. – with a view to settling as soon as you can find a wife. If you do not marry, & settle – your life will be thrown away & ruined. – It is my first & strongest wish – For me, I shall never marry – it would be simply impossible. I'd rather live as a friend & sister to Joe & Maggie & aunt to their children than I'd marry any man alive – I'll just take care of Papa as long as I can. – If anything happens that I can't, you'll have to do it, but I don't see you have any business to do it now. Your sole business is to save money, & marry. – & the blessed change that marriage makes in a man's whole nature! – I think if I wanted more convincing of a man's absolute duty to marry, & the ruin is if he doesn't – it would be in seeing what I have seen this year in the difference between Allan & Joe – I'll keep this bit till until afternoon on chance of second post.

Afternoon – No letters – & now I must post this. – Shall send you the News if I can get it – & if the mail allows – Otherwise it will go by the regular mail next month. – Anyhow I get a good deal of news in a small compass. price 8 – per 1/4 ounce. A 1/2 ounce is 1/4 – which I have afforded you, by last French but can't do it again!! – The communications which are to be sent next month to Selver &c – I'll do my best to get you. – I think on the whole I "have not laboured in vain!" – see Pecksniff . The only thing that went wrong was the July letter – & that Garlick declares positively he posted on the day I named – Saturday 9th : – It must have gone wrong at the Hampstead Post Office. There has been a row here about non-delivered letters. – I hope they have not taken my French letter there today. – Goodbye – I hope all is well with you my dearest boy

Your affec affectionate Sister
1 Around the end of August/the beginning of September 1860, Craik's friend Jane Benson discovered benign but painful abscesses in her breast. She was ill for at least a month. 2 Moses is the name of one of Craik's dead fruit trees. 3 "Hopath" seems to be an abbreviation for the word "homoeopath." 4 Craik uses this work to mean "dull" or "void of interest" (OED "stupid, adj. and n." 4). 5 Lied is a genre in which German poems are set to music. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Romantic poems were often combined with musical compositions. 6 The publisher Henry Blackett had two younger sisters, Harriet and Catharine. Harriet, the middle sister, lived with him and his family in London in the 1861 census. 7 "Killing" was nineteenth century slang for "fascinating". "Killing," Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English, eds. John S. Farmer and W. E. Henley (London: George Routledge & Sons, 1905), 253. 8 The quote "I have not laboured in vain" is from Charles Dicken's novel, Martin Chuzzlewit. Charles Dickens, "Chapter XIX," The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewitt (Leipzig: Tauchnitz, 1844), 280.

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Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Ben Mulock, 14–23 October 1860 . Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription June 2017 by Hannah Anderson Proofing of transcription June–July 2017 by Kailey Fukushima TEI encoding June 2017 by Hannah Anderson Proofing of TEI encoding June–July 2017 by Kailey Fukushima First digital edition in TEI, date: July 2017. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2017

Reproduced by courtesy of the University of California at Los Angeles .

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Ben Mulock, 14–23 October 1860 . Box 1, Folder 8

Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded.

Sunday Oct October 14th Wildwood My dearest boy

– The usual interval between breakfast & church, which you get the benefit of. I have had a busy week – clearing off odds & ends of work before I settle to my long story. Once or twice I have seen Vale Lodge people – & once or twice Laura & Miss Montgomery. I have been to Jane Benson's nearly every day. – The abscess is going on all right – but she suffers extremely. You will understand from your boils how bad it is. – Curtis Curtiss doctors her – & is so kind & good – it's wonderful. She has greatly improved they say – & sure there was need for it. They always ask so kindly after you – & so does everybody. I am afraid your grand plan of coming home to England as a "stranger" will never succeed. – unless you come disguised: for everybody has the kindest feeling towards you. I have had letters from Albert & Clara asking about you. Albert has been out of health for months – poor fellow! – It's pitiful how much he suffers & how he works thro' through it all – 3 weeks lately at Llandudno did him good, but when he got home he fell ill again. Clara is having a fourth baby in Spring. She is particularly weak however. Horace has had typhus fever – & Sydney too has been ill. Indeed Clarence said says all the time of their stay at Llandudno they have had nothing but ill news. They are obliged to remain there still – all "Detmore" – besides the Horaces have gone to Detmore for change of air. I have only heard from Clarence – who seems flourishing – making studies for his picture but probably Nora or Alice will write next week – they now & then give me a long letter – & then stop for two months. Minna & Marian are gone to join their parents at Southend – I went in the evening before they left & thought they both look wickedly ill: but Marian I suppose had been fretting about Sydney – & Minna I know has been bothered out of her life with some family row – probably William & Fanny. Which has made Mrs. Lovell nervous to the last degree. O why will people fight about nothing – But I feel sorry to my heart for Min – she is getting quite a worn old-maidish face at times – & I am sure it is just with the incessant worries of home. How people can bother one another – with the very best intentions! – Emily Coates I took a walk with yesterday – good soul. – She is busy with the Howling Wilderness. She & the James Jameses seem all right & happy – so their affairs are everybody's business but their own. Certainly there can be no doubt she is excessively fond of Marian. – I can't think of anything else that you will care to hear about. Wildwood is as usual – a week of "quiet evenings". – which Christopher & I spend together. Of course it is a change after 3 months of lively large families, but I'm quite content. I have a lot of peaches – descendents of poor "Moses" – but small & sour – so that nobody will eat them. However I eat 6 per diem, also nectarines, with sugar – & enjoy them very much. The two pear trees & the apple-tree are tolerably tall – if only they ripen un-stolen – Poor Albert – among his other woes has had indefinite boils – how have yours gone on? You have never named them so I have concluded their race was ended. Also that your eyes keep right – at least as right as usual. – I was able to give Joe great comfort from your experience in the matter of eyes – as he had been suffering for a year or two exactly in the same way – & was thinking of going to the Hopath Homeopath . – I told him what the Hopath Homeopath said to you – & how much you were improved. He was improved as soon as he got stronger & ceased working by gas-light. – It is curious how one finds out everybody's suffering. I "preached" to Joe without end in sanitary matters – & Maggie writes me he really has minded it – taken to getting up early, & not working at night – & is very much better. – Well, this is very stupid – & so goodbye – for I must get ready for Church.

Evening I return to my letter to put in a joke riddle which Laura particularly wishes communicated to you – as she thinks it bad good enough for you to appreciate. "What are the degrees of comparisons atives of on a Lawyer's career – First he gets on – then he gets honor honour – then he gets honest!!!" She & the Ziepels came in & stopped tea in the usual way – Mr. Z played Liedes – & he looked over your Phos Photographs . Then I have been playing alone by myself till until 11. P.M. – I always miss you of a Sunday. I shall never get used to it. & it's no use trying. A year hasn't made it any better – & its just a year today since the first Sunday you were away. – After lunch I went to see Jane – which was very sad – besides her illness or rather I think because of it, she has got into a state of religious melancholy – and Fanny doesn't know what to do with her – Her state of despair at her own weakness poor dear – is quite pitiful – because she thinks she does not bear her illness as she ought – She will read none but religious books – & thinks of nothing else. – Fanny is so patient with her & so devoted to her – it is quite beautiful. I promised to put aside work & spend tomorrow morning with Jane & see what I can do – but it's little anybody can do but cheer & amuse her, & prevent her thinking of herself – The abscesses are going on all right – They must take their time. There seems so much illness & trouble about – that I feel frightened of hearing more ill news of you – especially as the hot season is coming on – it seems sometimes bad enough that I must be probing after other such talk while you are left to be looked after by strangers – yet you keep telling me much better you like strangers – so it's no use minding. – It is one of the sad inevitables of life. – I hope however in spite of my fidgets you are well & happy – & getting all you want – or a good deal of it. God bless you – my boy. Goodnight.

Sunday 21. I hope to get a French mail letter tomorrow morning. – Yesterday came out in the News 2 Phos Photographs of the Brazil rail – with short notice & your name as large as life, as the Photographer to the railway. I can't say they are very well engraved – but one of them looks pretty well – you will get the paper by the regular mail – Harvey may come tonight & then I'll tell you more. I have had a quiet week – working hard. There was some mistake made by Dr. Macleod in the Good Words offer – they will not give £1000 except with right of reprint – So Dr. Macleod rushed over for a day & we talked it over & settled it – "Good Words" pays me £5 per page – which will come to £400 – or £500 if I like to make it so long. & Mr. Blackett gives for the first edition if 2 vols volumes : £500 – & half profits afterwards as usual. – I have begun the tale – its title is "A Noble Woman". – The story is purely imaginary – but the character my poor Bessy without any alteration. – It will be six months work – but I am well & wish to work while I can – on Tuesday I heard from Papa & Major Fulford – he has got his free discharge & goes out tomorrow – to lodgings in Stafford – thence he intends to go to Killarney. I have written saying that I will send him £4 per month instead of £3 – & that I can do no more – & that I do not wish him to come to Wildwood – as it would hinder my work, & if I do not work I cannot keep either him or myself. This makes it his interest to keep away – which is the sole hold I have over him. – I am quite convinced by his late letters that to deal with him by means of any spark of affection or generosity is utterly out of the question. – it isn't in him – you might as well appeal to a stone. He has lived all his life utterly for himself – & sees nothing in the whole world but himself. I hear thro through the Fulford's governess whose sister Annie Miers knows that there was lately an awful row between Papa & some person in the prison, in which Papa's behaviour they say, could only be accounted for by his mind being not right. but as neither he nor the Major have named this – of course I take no notice of it. Of course I shall live in perpetual fear now of some awful fuss occurring – or if his appearing at Wildwood – sometimes it turns me perfectly sick: but I shall get used to it – & anything is better than having him constantly here. I shall never try that idea again. – His coming out will at least end the bad choices that have gone about concerning me. & anything he does to "disgrace the family" must just be borne. – Poor Aunt Eliza – she takes it quietly & hoping he will not come out after all – I have not the heart to tell her he is out. – I spent a morning with Jane Benson & heard a few "trifles" about Curtis Curtiss – Oh how selfish men can be – He gets £1200 a year – & his mother & Hannah live upon £120 – & he hardly helps them at all – Fanny has to do it. – & she does, nobly. – With all that, they adore him, & now he is going out next week to Africa are breaking their hearts for him. – It is a thing I can't understand. – I know if you had been such a fellow & lost my respect, I never could have gone on loving you although I might have pitied you & done my duty by you – He is not "bad", Jane says – it's their selfish thoughtlessness – & love of his own sake – & indifference to money. – But I do despise such a character for the bother of any soul. – the utmost Scotch stinginess that exacts every half-penny & pays every halfpenny, is higher & less harmful to other folk. – Now I must go – as it is Church time. – It is always comfortable to go to Church – especially when one is worried – as I own I have been by this matter of Papa. Mr. Blackett was here last night – & told me his woes. His sister has fallen into "a low way" – & he fears he must put her in an Asylum – but means to take her to live with him first, & try what he can do. – He has terrible health himself, poor man – He is a worthy sort. I wouldn't leave him. Minna came in afterwards & we walked with Mr. Blackett to Jack Brants & then came back & spent a quiet evening – talking about many things – but never about you. – Marian is at Hill Road for a week – Miss Alice Hardy was married on Tuesday – six bridesmaids – 17 carriages – quite a show – all North End tarried at its doors & windows, but I was away with Jane Benson & missed it all.

– I have in vain waited for my letter – but there is still a chance tomorrow morning, before this goes. Harvey did not appear yesterday. I mean to write to him – Poor fellow I hope he is not ill. – Annie writes to say she believes I can send newspapers per French mail – so I shall try to send your news. – Yesterday there was a lot of callers – among the rest an individual a friend of the Wells & Frank Smedley – who came to ask me to write a continuous tale for a new May "Temple-bar" started in opposition to the Cornhill by Sala – who after writing the Hogarth papers, has quarrelled with Thackeray – Of course I said no – wouldn't have to do with that set for any money – I stick to Good Words & Norman Macleod – It amuses me somewhat the "run" there is upon me just now. I have had offers contracts end this year for magazines & publications – they'd swallow anything – poor donkeys! – but I hope I have sense to see that it can't last & neither to kill myself nor write myself out – what's the use of making money – & writing trash. Did I tell you Max has been brought out at the Hoxton theatre"A Life for a Life" or "the Burdens of Guilt". Mr. Martin went to see it & brought me the Playbill – which is killing! Plot slightly altered – 1st scene – the murder at StonehengeHarry, recovering, is really killed by two choice villains – Tyrell & Burgs, who are taking off his clothes. – 2nd scene Max going to be hanged Dora declares her woe to Burgs, who is only a villain (he says) per circumstances – "I" know the murderer – Ha!" says he, & planting Dora behind Stonehenge makes her overlook Tyrell's confession – she reeling out with "Ha - my Max is innocent!" is met by Tyrell – he pulls out a pistol – she another – & they chase one another about the stage. She is about to get the worst of it & be shot when constables appear & rescue. – It seems magistrates knew – Max, black-coated, seedy, & melancholy is set free, & Tyrell – crowing he has led an ill life & would rather be hanged than not, goes to off to be hanged accordingly. Max leads Dora to the floodlights with "Ha, my Dora this is thy doing!" – & a moral sentiment About the wonderful workings of Providence – with which the play ends. Doesn't it beat me hollow? – The admission is getting 3. & so on – & "No payment for Sergants Sergeants in Arms" – You may imagine the style of this. – You know you prophesied it at Linacre. –

Tuesday. No letter per French mail has come – so I conclude you have not written. I do hope you are still keeping well: but it would have been a great satisfaction to have had a letter. – There was one from Papa – quiet and kind – he seems pleased about his additional money – which of course he says he should not accept – & of course will. – He asks for some more for clothes – which I send him by return & have told him to get whatever he needs – he must be made comfortable this winter. He lodges with a widow & daughter – a little way out of Stafford8/week he pays, he says. – His letter would be very satisfactory if his statements could be relied on: but then unluckily they can't. – I beg your pardon. I know you will say I am "hard" to Papa & perhaps I am, but there is something about his plausibility which I do so intensely despise. He tells me how his sole reason for not becoming insolvent was the discredit it would reflect on the Father of the Author of John – as if I did not know that all his "sweet" letters are because he depends on me – & that if I couldn't send him money he would turn & blacken the Author of John in every possible way. – well – well – I suppose he can't help it – I always write him kindly – & never say a word that he might not print in the Times. & to other people I just hold my tongue – having learned at least one thing – that under any circumstances it is no credit to abuse one's father. But I cannot say black's white for all that – & pity him as you will & attribute as much as you will to a trick in his mind – there is a great deal in him which the largest charity cannot set down to insanity – & cannot help very cordially despising. – There now I've relieved my mind: but you need never be afraid that I shall not do my duty by Papa, for all that. – I do not by the way, think it is any duty of yours. I think all the money you can save you should save. – with a view to settling as soon as you can find a wife. If you do not marry, & settle – your life will be thrown away & ruined. – It is my first & strongest wish – For me, I shall never marry – it would be simply impossible. I'd rather live as a friend & sister to Joe & Maggie & aunt to their children than I'd marry any man alive – I'll just take care of Papa as long as I can. – If anything happens that I can't, you'll have to do it, but I don't see you have any business to do it now. Your sole business is to save money, & marry. – & the blessed change that marriage makes in a man's whole nature! – I think if I wanted more convincing of a man's absolute duty to marry, & the ruin is if he doesn't – it would be in seeing what I have seen this year in the difference between Allan & Joe – I'll keep this bit till until afternoon on chance of second post.

Afternoon – No letters – & now I must post this. – Shall send you the News if I can get it – & if the mail allows – Otherwise it will go by the regular mail next month. – Anyhow I get a good deal of news in a small compass. price 8 – per 1/4 ounce. A 1/2 ounce is 1/4 – which I have afforded you, by last French but can't do it again!! – The communications which are to be sent next month to Selver &c – I'll do my best to get you. – I think on the whole I "have not laboured in vain!" – see Pecksniff . The only thing that went wrong was the July letter – & that Garlick declares positively he posted on the day I named – Saturday 9th : – It must have gone wrong at the Hampstead Post Office. There has been a row here about non-delivered letters. – I hope they have not taken my French letter there today. – Goodbye – I hope all is well with you my dearest boy

Your affec affectionate Sister
Around the end of August/the beginning of September 1860, Craik's friend Jane Benson discovered benign but painful abscesses in her breast. She was ill for at least a month. Moses is the name of one of Craik's dead fruit trees. "Hopath" seems to be an abbreviation for the word "homoeopath." Craik uses this work to mean "dull" or "void of interest" (OED "stupid, adj. and n." 4). Lied is a genre in which German poems are set to music. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Romantic poems were often combined with musical compositions. The publisher Henry Blackett had two younger sisters, Harriet and Catharine. Harriet, the middle sister, lived with him and his family in London in the 1861 census. "Killing" was nineteenth century slang for "fascinating". "Killing," Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English, eds. John S. Farmer and W. E. Henley (London: George Routledge & Sons, 1905), 253. The quote "I have not laboured in vain" is from Charles Dicken's novel, Martin Chuzzlewit. Charles Dickens, "Chapter XIX," The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewitt (Leipzig: Tauchnitz, 1844), 280.